The Energía Costa Azul (ECA) natural gas export project in Mexico’s Baja California has yet to receive an export approval from the Mexican government despite a new push to support the exports but sanctioning could happen later this year, Infraestructura Energética Nova (IEnova) executives said last Thursday.

ECA map

The proposed two-phase liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, a joint venture between San Diego-based Sempra Energy subsidiaries IEnova and Sempra LNG, would be built adjacent to the company’s existing ECA LNG receipt terminal near Ensenada. The target market for exports of imported U.S. gas would be East Asia. Planned investment is $1.9 billion.

“Our plan is to take a final investment decision by the end of the year,” CEO Tania Ortiz said. “So basically, we have a...